PROCEEDINGS 


OF    THE 


G( 


STATE   BIBLE  CONVENTION 


OF 


Qi 


SOUTH     CAROLINA, 


HELD   AT 


Qi 


COLUMBIA,  SEPT.  17  AND  18,  1862; 


c* 


A  SERMON  PREAfHED  BEFORE  THE  CONVENTION. 


By  the  Rev.  GEORGE  HOWE,  D.  D. 


COLUMBIA,  S.   C: 

SOUTHERN  GUARDIAN  STEAM-POWER  PRESS. 

1862. 


Qi 


PROCEEDINGS 


OF  THE 


STATE   BIBLE  CONVENTION 


SOUTH     CAROLINA, 


COLUMBIA,  SEPT.  17  AND  18,  1862 ; 


A  SERMON  PREACHED  BEFORE  THE  CONVENTION, 


By  the  Rev.  GEORGE  HOWE,  D.  D. 


COLUMBIA,  S.  0.: 

SOUTHERN  GUARDIAN  STEAM-POWER  PRESS. 

1862. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2011  with  funding  from 
Duke  University  Libraries 


• 


http://www.archive.org/details/proceedingsofsta01stat 


PROCEEDINGS. 


Washington  Street  Methodtst  Cni  n<  n.  I 
Columbia,  S.  C,  Tuesday,  September  16,  b<'>.'.  » 

The  meeting  of  the  Convention  of  the  Bible  Societies  of  South 
Carolina,  appointed  to  be  held  in  this  place,  was  introduced  by  a  ser- 
mon from  the  Rev.  Geo.  Howe,  D.  D.,  from  Ps.  19  :  7,  "The  Law  of 
the  Lord  is  perfect,  converting  the  soul." 

At  the  close  of  the  religious  exercises,  on  the  motion  of  Rev.  E.  A. 
Bolles,  S.  Bobo,  Esq.,  was  called  to  the  Chair,  and  S.  Wilds  PuBose, 
Esq.,  and  Rev.  A.  Gr.  Stacey  requested  to  act  as  Secretaries,  pro  tern. 

Thereupon  the  roll  was  called,  and  the  Societies  named  below  were 
found  to  be  represented  as  follows,  to  wit : 

Abbeville  District. — Hon.  D.  L.  Wardlaw,  Rev.  A.  G.  Stacey,  Rev. 
W.  A.  M'Swain. 

Greenwood,  (Abbeville  District.) — Gen.  James  Gillam. 

Anderson  District. — Thos.  McHan. 

Bethcsda,  (York  District.) — A.  H.  Saddler. 

Camden. — C.  J.  Shannon,  Rev.  S.  H.  Hay,  Rev.  Stephen  Elliott,  J. 
S.  BePass,  Andrew  Kennedy. 

Charleston. — Rev.  J.  Bachman.  D.  D.,  Rev.  J.  Forrest,  P.  P.,  Rev. 
T.  0.  Rice,  Rev.  C.  P.  Gadsden,  Pan'l  Ravenel,  Pr.  Jas.  Moultrie, 
Ponald  Mackintosh,  Sam'l  J.  Wagner,  Wm.  Birnie,  Jr.,  Pr.  Julian 
Chisolm. 

Cheraw. — Hon.  John.  A.  Inglis,  James  C  Medlin. 

Rocky  Creek,  (Chester  District.) — Rev.  Wm.  Banks,  J.  C.  Buchan- 
an, P.  Moffatt. 

Columbia. — Rev.  W.  Martin,  Rev.  W.  A.  Gamewell,  Rev.  Geo. 
Howe,  P.  P.,  Pr.  W.  L.  Reynolds,  Rev.  Nicholas  Talley,  Rev.  J.  C 
Phelps,  Rev.  J.  M.  Pringle,  R.  Bryce,  Rev.  E.  B.  Hort. 

ro,xcord. — Rev.  Isaac  J.  Loner. 


4  PROCEEDINGS. 

Darlington  District. — S.  Wilds  DuBose. 

EbenczervUle,  (  York  District.) — T.  S.  Ncely. 

Fairfield  District — Rev.  E.  C.  Boggs,  James  McCrcight. 

Fork,  (Lexington  District.) — David  Nunnamaker. 

Newberry  District. — Rev.  E.  H.  Buist,  Rev.  A.  D.  Montgomery, 
Silas  Johnson,  Henry  Summer. 

Orangeburg  District. — Rev.  J.  W.  Kelly,  Rev.  A.  F.  Dickson,  Dr. 
J.  G.  Jenkins,  H.  Riggs. 

Salem  (Sumter  District.) — J.  M.  Cooper. 

Sumter  District  Bible  Convention. — Rev.  T.  R.  English,  Rev.  A.  R. 
Walker.  Rev.  D.  M'Queen,  Col.  G.  S.  C.  DeSchamps. 

Union,  (Fairfield  and  Richland  Districts.) — Rev.  H.  A.  J.  Cau- 
then,  A.  F.  Dubard. 

St.  Bartholomew. — Rev.  E.  E.  Bellinger,  D.  H.  Henderson,  J.  L. 
Paul,  B.  F.  Bradford,  W.  Godfrey. 

York  District. — A.  A.  M'Kenzie,  J.  R.  Schorb. 

Spartanburg  District. — Rev.  A.  J.  Stokes,  Rev.  W.  Curtis,  LL.  D. 

Union,  (Orangebury^District.) — T.  H.  Zimmerman,  M.J.Keller, 
Dr.  J.  C.  Arant,  D.  L.  Daptzler. 

Western,  (Chester  District.) — T.  R.  Lipsey. 

Frog  Level. — James  Fair. 

SUBSEQUENTLY  ENROLLED. 

Pendleton. — Rev.  A.  M'Bryde. 

Indian  Land. — James  Miller. 

Union,  (Fairfield  and  Richland  Districts.) — Rev.  J.  C.  Kennedy. 

Orangeburg  District. — W.  Moss. 

Marion  District. — S.  M.  Stevenson. 

Mt.  Zion.—Rev.  J.  L.  Wilson,  D.  D. 

Hon.  John  A.  Inglis,  Rev.  J.  Bachman,  D.  D.,  Rev.  W.  Martin,  D. 
I).,  and  Rev.  E.  A.  Bolles,  were  appointed  a  nominating  committee,  to 
prepare  a  list  of  permanent  officers. 

The  committee  retired,  and  in  course  of  time  reported,  as  follows, 
to  wit : 


PROCEEDINGS.  O 

For  Bresident.—'SON.  D.  L.  WARDLAW. 

For  Vice  Presidents. — Daniel  Ravenel,  Esq.,  Rev.  J.  Forrest, 
D.  D.,  Rev.  W.  A.  G-amewell,  Henry  Summer,  Esq.,  Jas.  Moul- 
trie, M.  D.,  Rev.  W.  Curtis,  LL.  D. 

For  Secretaries. — S.  Wilds  DuBose,  Esq.,  and  Rev.  A.  F.  Dick- 
son. 

"Which  report  was  unanimously  adopted  j  and  the  officers  so  elected 
took  their  seats. 

A  Business  Committee,  of  six  members,  was  now  appointed,  to  wit : 
Rev.  J.  Bachman,  D.  D.,  Rev.  T.  .0.  Rice,  Rev.  C  P.  Gadsden,  Dan'l 
Ravenel,  Esq.,  Henry  Summer,  Esq.,  Col.  G.  S.  C.  DeSchamps. 

Motion  was  made,  that  when  this  Convention  adjourn,  it  adjourn  to 
meet  in  this  house  to-morrow,  at  10,  A.  M.;  and  it  was  so  ordered. 

Rev.  E.  A.  Bollcs,  and  R.  Bryce,  Esq.,  were  appointed  a  Committee, 
to  receive  contributions  from  the  local  Societies  and  from  individuals. 

On  motion,  the  reverend  clergy,  and  all  members  of  local  Societies 
present,  were  invited  to  sit  with  this  Convention,  and  participate  in  its 
deliberations. 

It  was  moved,  and  unanimously  carried,  that  Rev.  E.  H.  Myers,  D. 
D.,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Bible  Society  of  the  Confederate 
States  of  America,  be  recognized  as  a  member  of  this  Convention, 
and  requested  to  confer  with  the  Business  Committee. 

After  which,  the  Convention  adjourned,  with  prayer  by  Rev.  John 
Forrest',  D.  D. 


Wednesday,  September  17,  10,  A.  M. 

The  Convention  was  called  to  order,  in  the  absence  of  the  President, 
by  Dan'l  Ravenel,  Esq.,  first  Vice  President;  and  its  exercises  opened 
with  prayer  by  Rev.  E.  H.  Myers,  D.  D.  The  Minutes  having  been 
read  and  approved,  the  names  of  members  just  arrived  were  added  to 
the  roll.     (See  roll  above.) 

The  Business  Committee  reported  in  part,  recommending  that  the 
reports  of  local  Societies,  when  read,  be  referred  to  them ;  and  that 
they  have  permission  to  meet  as  a  Committee  during  the  sessions  of 
this  Convention.     Adopted. 


O  PROCEEDINGS. 

Dan'l  Ravcnel,  Esq.,  then  submitted  a  report,  in  view  of  the  request 
of  the  last  Convention,  that  he  should  take  the  necessary  steps  to  call 
a  Convention  of  the  Bible  Societies  of  the  Confederate  States.  This 
report  was  referred  to  the  Business  Committee. 

The  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Charleston  Bible  Society  presented 
their  report,  as  Executive  Committee  for  the  State,  ad  interim  :  that 
is,  previous  to  the  formation  of  the  Confederate  Bible  Society.  Re- 
ferred to  the  Business  Committee. 

On  motion,  the  order  of  the  day  was  suspended,  that  a  resolution 
might  be  introduced ;  and  it  was,  accordingly,  unanimously 

Resolved,  That  this  Convention  dispense  with  its  usual  public  meet- 
ing, and  attend  the  services  commemorative  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Thornwell, 
D.  D.,  appointed  for  to-night,  as  a  testimony  of  our  respect  for  that 
distinguished  divine. 

Reports  of  local  Societies  were  then  called  for,  and  referred,  on 
their  reading,  t#the  Business  Committee. 

On  motion  of  S.  M.  Stevenson,  Esq.,  it  was  unanimously 

Resolved,  That  the  next  Convention  meet  in  the  town  of  Winnsboro', 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  September  next, 
at  half-past  7,  P.  M. 

It  was  moved,  and  unanimously 

Resolved,  That  Rev.  Dr.  Shipp  be  requested  to  deliver  the  Annual 
Sermon,  at  the  opening  of  the  next  Convention,  and  that  Rev.  Wm. 
Banks  be  his  alternate. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  A.  G.  Stacey, 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  are  due,  and  arc 
hereby  tendered,  to  Rev.  G .  Howe,  B\  D.,  for  his  able  and  interesting 
sermon,  delivered  before  this  body  at  the  opening  of  its  sessions. 

On  motion  of  Col.  G-.  S.  C.  DeSchamps, 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  bo  tendered  to  the 
citizens  of  Columbia  for  their  kindness  and  attention  to,  and  hospita- 
ble entertainment  of,  its  members ;  and  especially  to  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements,  for  the  manner  in  which  they  have  discharged  their 


PROCEEDINGS.  7 

duties  in  making  preparations  necessary  to  carry  out  the  objects  of 
this  body. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  arc  due,  and  are  here- 
by tendered,  to  Rev.  W.  A.  Gamewell,  and  his  congregation,  for  their 
Church,  so  fraternally  opened  to  us  during  our  sessions. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  are  due,  and  are  here- 
by tendered,  to  the  various  Railroad  companies,  which  have  extended 
courtesy  to  this  body  in  passing  its  members  for  one  fare. 

It  was  also  moved  and  carried,  that  Rev.  Dr.  Howe  be  requested  to 
furnish  this  Convention  with  a  copy  of  his  sermon,  for  publication. 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  superintend 
the  printing  of  500  or  more  copies  of  the  Minutes  of  this  Convention, 
together  with  the  Sermon  of  Rev.  Dr.  Howe,  for  general  distribution, 
in  pamphlet  form;  and  for  this  purpose  the  sum  of  8150  be  appropri 
atcd  from  the  funds  in  our  hands,  and  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
Committee. 

The  Convention  then  adjourned,  to  meet  a^  half-past  4  o'clock 


Wednesday,  September  17,  i J,  P.  M 
Convention  met,  according  to  adjournment.    The  Minutes  were  read 

and  approved. 

The  report  of  the  Business  Committee  was  read,  and  unanimously 

adopted. 

REPORT  OF  THE  BUSINESS  COMMITTEE. 

The  Business  Committee,  to  whom  the  Reports  of  the  General 
Agent,  Rev.  Edwin  A.  Bolles,  and  of  the  Local  Societies,  have  been 
committed  for  examination,  find  abundant  material  for  a  grateful  ac- 
knowledgement of  the  good  hand  of  our  God  upon  us  the  past  year, 
and  for  devout  thanksgiving  to  Him  for  His  mercies. 

Mr.  Bolles  has  devoted  much  of  his  time  ta  supplying  our  soldiers 
with  the  Word  of  Life.  His  account  of  his  labors  will  be  read  with 
interest.  It  gives  ample  proof  of  the  eagerness  of  those  in  camp  to 
receive  the  Scriptures.  We  believe  that  all  our  labors  in  this  direc- 
tion are  wisely  expended,  and  will  be  richly  rewarded. 


O  PROCEEDINGS. 

The  Reports  of  the  Delegates  from  the  local  Societies  at  this  Con- 
vention, indicate  a  healthful  interest  in  the  Bible  cause  in  the  various 
parts  of  the  State. 

The  Committee  earnestly  recommend  that,  in  future,  the  Reports  of 
the  Delegates  be  written,  and  consist  chiefly  of  pertinent  facts. 

The  generous  attendance  at  this  Convention,  together  with  the 
amount  of  money  contributed,  notwithstanding  the  pressure  without 
us,  and  the  distracted  thoughts  and  feelings  within  us,  indicates  un- 
mistakably the  firm  hold  which  the  Bible  cause  has  on  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  our  people. 

A  year  ago  the  Convention  at  Orangeburg  took  the  initiative  towards 
the  formation  of  a  Confederate  States  Bible  Society.  Since  that  time, 
the  project  which  was  so  harmoniously  begun  has  been  most  success- 
ful lygconsummated.  The  general  Society  now  stands  before  us  in  all 
the  completeness  of  a  perfect  organization.  We  commend  it  to  the 
generous  confidence  of  all  the  local  Societies  and  good  people  of  our 
State,  and  urge  them  to  evince  their  confidence  by  their  liberal  con- 
tributions to  its  treasury. 

A  great  impediment  in.  our  work  at  the  present  time  is  the  want  of 
a  suitable  supply  of  Bibles  and  Testaments.  The  importations  are 
limited,  and  the  publishing  houses  and  Societies  are  utterly  unable  to 
meet  the  demands,  for  want  of  material.  We  hope  for  better  things 
ere  long. 

We  do  but  award  a  well-earned  meed  of  praise,  when  we  make 
commendatory  mention  of  the  successful  efforts  of  the  Charleston 
Bible  Society,  in  connection  with  the  generous  cooperation  of  John 
Fraser  &  Co.,  of  Charleston,  and  Fraser,  Trenholm  &  Co.,  of  Liver- 
pool, in  purchasing  and  importing  Bibles  and  Testaments  for  distribu- 
tion, not  only  in  this  State,  but  throughout  the  Confederacy. 

In  accordance  with  these  views,  the  Committee  respectfully  recom- 
mend the  adoption  of  the  following  resolutions : 

1.  Resolved,  That  this  Convention  congratulates  the  Bible  Societies 
here  represented,  on  the  establishment  of  the  Bible  Society  of  the 
Confederate  States,  and  earnestly  recommend  to  them  all  to  become 
auxiliary  thereto,  and  to  promote  its  success  by  their  cooperation  in 
its  purposes  and  efforts. 

2.  Resolved,  That  as  reports  from  the  Bible  Societies  of  the  State 
to  our  Annual  Convention  contribute  largely  to  the  interest  of  our 
meetings,  and  have  a  tendency  to  stimulate  efforts  in  the  cause,  this 


PROCEEDINGS.  9 

Convention  earnestly  requests  all  our  Societies  to  make  to  future  Con- 
ventions brief  written  reports,  confined  to  prominent  facts. 

Resolutions  offered  by  Hon.  Jobn  A.  Inglis,  were  unanimously 
adopted,  as  follows,  viz: 

Resolved,  Tbat  this  Convention  receives  with  great  satisfaction  the 
report  of  Dan'l  Ravenel,  Esq.,  president  of  the  Convention  assembled 
last  year  at  Orangeburg,  of  his  execution  of  the  trust  then  confided 
to  him,  for  procuring  the  cooperation  of  the  other  Bible  Societies  in 
the  Southern  States  in  the  great  work  of  organizing  a  General  Bible 
Society  of  the  Confederate  States  and  for  providing  for  the  repre- 
sentation of  the  Bible  Societies  of  this  State  in  the  general  convention 
called  for  that  purpose;  aud  hereby  tenders  to  him  thanks  for  the  zeal 
and  intelligence  with  which  the  wishes  of  the  State  Convention  were 
carried  out. 

Resolved,  That  this  Convention  hereby  expresses  its  sincere  gratifi- 
cation, and  its  sense  of  obligation,  for  the  promptness,  zeal  and  success, 
with  which  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Charleston  Bible  Society 
fulfilled  the  duty  devolved  upon  it,  as  the  Executive  Committe  of  the 
late  Bible  Convention  at  Orangeburg,  in  the  work  of  procuring  and  dis- 
tributing Bibles  in  this  State,  until  a  general  Society  could  be  formed. 

• 

Rev.  E.  H.  Myers,  D.  D.,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Confed- 
erate States  Bible  Society,  was  requested  to  make  a  statement  of  the 
work  and  prospects  of  that  Society.  After  an  account  from  him,  full  of 
interest  and  encouragement,  followed  by  a  striking  statement,  from 
Rev.  C.  P.  Gadsden,  with  reference  to  the  formation  of  the  Confed- 
erate Bible  Society,  as  a  work  of  prayer — in  acknowledgement  of  the 
signal  mercies  vouchsafed  to  us  in  that  regard — it  was  resolved  to  offer 
especial  thanksgiving  to  God.  Rev.  Mr.  Gadsden  was  called  upon  to 
lead  us  in  that  tribute  of  praise. 

The  Committee  to  receive  funds,  reported  the  receipt  of  31,271  43, 
nearly  five-fold  of  the  amount  received  last  year.     (See  Appendix.) 

Whereupon,  the  duties  of  the  occasion  having  been  fulfilled,  the 
Convention  adjourned,  sine  die;  and  its  sessions  were  closed  with 
prayer  by  Rev.  W.  A.  Gamewell. 

D.  L.  WARDLAW,  President. 
S.  Wilds  DuBose, 
A.  F.  Dickson, 

2 


5    )     a 

>  Secretaries. 


APPENDIX. 


Columbia,  Sept.  17,  1^62. 
Covtrihutions  for   the    Bible    Society  of  the    Conf<l>rat>     States  of 
America,  received  from  Delegates  and  Sorirtirs  at  fh>-  Staff    Bibb 
Gonventkm,  donimeneing  Wth  September.  1862 

Rev.  Charles  Taylor,  life  member,  830;  Rev.  W.  B.  Cor- 
bett,  life  member,  830;  Rev.  E.  W.  Thompson,  life 
member,  830;  Rev.  J.  M.  Bostick,  life  member,  $30; 
Rev.  R.  T.  Brown,  life  member,  830;  from  Cheraw  Bible 

Society,  through  Chancellor  Inglis $150  00 

Rev.  T.  L.  McBryde,  D.  D.,  made  life  member  by  J.  T. 

Latta,  Esq.,  Pendleton,  S.  C 30  00 

J.  T.  Latta,  Esq.,  Pendleton,  S.  C,  life  member 30  00 

Young  Men's  Bible  Society,  Spartanburg  District,  to  make 

Rev.  James  Stacey  life  member 35  00 

Bethesda  Bible  Society,  York  District,  to  make  John  M. 

Moore  and  F.  E.  Moore  life  members 75  00 

Concord  Bible  Society,  Sumter  District,  per  Rev.  J.  J. 

.Long : 12  18 

St.  Bartholomew's  Bible  Society,  per  Mr.  Godfrey 61  00 

Fork  Bible  Society,  Lexington  District,  per  Mr.  D.  Nun- 

namaker "1  ^5 

Rocky  Creek  Bible  Society,  Chester  District 60  00 

Catholic  Presbyterian  Church,  Chester  District 40  00 

Indian  Land  Bible  Society,   Lancaster  District,  to  make 

Rev.  Alexander  Sinclair  life  member 40  00 

Chester  Bible  Society 46  25 

Bethel  Bible  Society,  York  District 12  00 

Ebenezerville  Bible  Society,  York  District 50  00 

Frog  Level  Bible  Society,  Newberry  District,  per  Jas.  Fair,         61  35 

Carmel  Bible  Society,  Anderson  District , 5  00 

t 


12 


APPENDIX. 


Union  Bible  Society,  Orangeburg  District,  per  Col.  Zim- 
merman   20  00 

Dr.  James  Moultrie,  annual  member 5  00 

Marion  Bible  Society,  by  S.  Stevenson 10  00 

Darlington  Bible  Society,  by  S.  W.  DuBose  120  00 

Rev.  Stephen  Elliott,  aunual  member 5  00 

Rev.  David  Derrick,  annual  member 5  00 

Greenwood  Bible  Society,  Abbeville  Dist.,  by  Gen.  Gillam,  10  10 
Camden  Bible  Society,  to  make  Gen.  D.  H.  Hill,  Confed- 
erate States  Army,  life  director,  $150;  donation.  850...  200  00 

Rev.  W.  A.  Gamewell 7  00 

Young  Men's  Bible  Society,  Spartanburg  District,  second 

payment 20  0Q 

Robert  G.  Chisolm,  to  make  Mrs.  R.  G.  Chisolm  life  member,       100  00 



$1,271  43 
E.  A.  BOLLES,  Gen.  Agt.  B.  S.  C.  S.  A. )  n 
ROBERT  BRYCE,  }  Committee. 


BIBLE  SOCIETIES  IN  SOUTH  CAROLINA. 


NAMBS. 


PRESIDENTS  AND  OTHER 

OFFICERS. 


Abbeville 

Anderson 

Rarnwell 

Beaufort 

Outhriesville 
I  altl.lcll 

<  harl-'stt'ii.... 

Cheraw 

<  licstcr 

Qjj 

Cohuribi 

Sumter 

Due  W- 


..  Ebene 


Abbeville  District 

Anderson  District 

Barn  well 

>rt 

Hethosda  (York  District) 

Camden  and  Kershaw 

Charleston 

Cheraw  and  (  besteitteM 

Chester  I  >istri  at 

Clarendon   I  'istricl  

Columbia  and  Richland 

iter  1  listrict  i 

I  >.'»  i-l  i  t  i  I  

Due  \\.  si 

riYork  District) 

Edgefield... lEdgenel 

Id    District Winn- 

GeorgBtOH  a  District < r.:etown 

(iroon villo    District <  free n  villi- 

lMirinv.ii.il (.l-'cim 

Cokesbury ( jokesbury 

Greenville  <  hutcB Donalds." 

11.. i  ry   1  Msl net Conway  horo" 

Jndirin  Land Hell  Air 

India  mown Indian tnun 

Kingstree Eiogatrete 

-wile Lownd. 

Lancaster ville Laneafllernlle... 

i.aur.ns Laurens 

Lexington Lexington 

Marion Marion 

Marlboro' RennottsvihY .... 

Midway New  Zion 

Mout  Zion  (Sumter   District' Mayesville , 

Newberry  District ■  ny 

I  "strict Orangeburg 

Pickens  1  iistriet Pickens 

Pendleton » Pendleton 

Rocky  Creek  (Chester  I  >istn.  1 1 iHaslewooti 

Salem  | Sumter  District) : Sumter 

Sumter  District 

Union  (Anderson  District) 

Union  (Fairfield  &  Richland  Dist's)... 

Union  District 

Union  ^Georgetown  District) 

St.  Bartholomew's 

Waxhaw 

York  District 

>  oung  Men's  (Spartanburg  District).. 

Union  (Orangeburg  Distinct) 

Pine  Grove  1 1  irangebuxg  District) 

Frog  Level  (Newberry  District) 

Union  (Newberry  District) 

Pomaria  (Newberry  District) 

Mars  Bluff. 

I  dmestone  Springs 

Fork  (Lexington  District) 

Bethel  (York  District) 


Sumter 

"11  

Columbia 

Union 

Black  Mingo 

Walterbow 

Lancasterville..., 

Rlairsville 

Spartan  burg 

Orangeburg 

Fort  Motte 

Frog  Level 

Newberry 

Pomaria.'. 

Mars  Bluff. 

Limestone  Springs. 

Columbia 

Bethel 


Hon.  T.  CPerrin. 
Rev.  A.  A.  Morse. 
Or.  J.  O.  Hasrood. 
Rev.  .I.K.  Walker.  D.  D. 
Rev.  J.  S.  Harris. 

union. 
N.  R.  MuMleton. 
h'ev.  Wm.  p..  Corbett 
Rev.  P.  K.  \\ 

[(tales  McDowell. 
rge  Howe,  I  >.  D. 
Dr.  Du ran U 

S.  Wilds  DuBose,  Secretary 
Rev.  Dr.  Oner. 
K.  J.  Adams. 
H.  T.  Wright. 
Mai.  S.  (..  Barkl.  y. 
1'r.  Willi 
Rev.  Mr.  Arthur. 
i  in. 
Mr.  Smith.  Sr. 
R--\  .Mi.  Williams. 
Mr.  Walsh,  Attorney  at  Law. 
K>  \     \.laiu  I\  y. 
Kev.  fames  Guland, 
I;-  \.  R.  I ».  I'nerson. 
Revs  '  •  V.  Barnes. 
•I.  A.  Cunningham. 
1  ir.  Jehn  w.  sin, j, son. 
Ue\ .  \\     C.rley. 
B.  M.  si.  \ enson. 
Dr.  .T.  H.  Jennings. 
Rev.  I'.  PlersoA, 
Rev.  W.  M.  Held. 

Henn  E 

Rev.  J.  S.  K,  Legare. 
Rev.  W.  W.  MeWhorter. 
H>  iv.  T.  L.  McBrvde,  D.  D. 

Hev.  P..  W.  I 

-  B.  Mack. 
Rev.  D.  McQueen. 
Rev.  J.  S.  Pressley. 
J  B.  B.  Cook,  and 

i  \-  \-  Dub&rd,  Sec.  and  Treas 
1  It.  I  >ogan. 

-  now. 

R.  v.  K.  K.  Bellinger. 
Wm.  Reid.       ' 
Rev.  R,  A.  1 
■  l.W.i  arlisle. 
Rev.  Paul  Derrick. 
J.  A.  Shirer. 
.lame-  Fair. 
Rev.  Robert  McLees. 
R.  t.  T.  J.  Boinest. 
Rev.  1 1,  Fnerson. 
Rev.  Dr.  Curtis. 
D.  Nunnamaker. 
Rev.  Mr.  Watson. 


Besides  the  above,  several  Districts  of  the  State  have  small  Branch 
Societies  and  Bible  Committees,  who  cooperate  with  the  Central  So- 
ciety at  the  Court  House  towns. 

E.  A.  BOLLES, 
General  Agent  Bible  Society  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America. 


C|mttmstics  of  t|t  fltblf. 
A   SERMON 


PREACHED    BEFORE    THE 


jible  €mfotafttm  of  Jtojj  feolina, 


IN   THE   "WASHINGTON   STREET    METHODIST   CHURCH, 


COLUMBIA,   SEPTEMBER  15,  1862, 


By  Rev.  GEORGE  HOWE,  D.  D., 

PRO*.  Of  BIBLICAL  LITERATTOI  in  THB  THEOLOGICAL  BEMIWAST,  COLUMBIA,   8.  C. 


COLUMBIA,    S.    C: 

SOUTHERN  GUARDIAN  STEAM-POWER  TRESS. 

1862. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


Columbia,  September  20,   1862. 
Rev.  George  Howe,  D.  D. : 

Dear  Sir:  The  State  Bible  Convention,  at  its  late  wsasioo  in  this  city, 
appointed  Rev.  Wm.  Martin,  Rev.  E.  A.  Bolles,  and  myself  a  committee 
to  request  a  copy  of  your  sermon  for  publication. 

Believing,  as  we  all  do,  that  its  circulation  will  bo  productive  of  great 
good  to  the  cause  whose  interests  we  all  have  at  heart,  the  other  members 
have  authorized  me,  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  to  urge  the  unanimous 
request  of  the  Convention. 

Hoping  that  you  will  find  it  convenient  to  afford  us  the  pleasure  of  an 
early  compliance, 

I  remain  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, 

Yours,  very  respectfully, 

ROBERT  BRYCE, 
Chairman  of  Committee. 


Columbia,  September  26,  1862. 
Robert  Brtce,  Esq.,  Chairman,  &c. : 

Dear  Sir  :  I  place  the  Sermon  at  the  disposal  of  the  Convention,  and 
if  it  shall  be  at  all  useful  in  promoting  the  distribution  of  the  Sacred 
Scriptures,  I  shall  bo  much  gratified. 

Very  respectfully,  yours, 

GEORGE  HOWE. 


SEEMON 


It  is  a  blessing  to  us,  in  this  world  of  selfishness  and  imperfection, 
when  we  are  drawn  into  the  presence  of  our  fellow-men.  from  whom 
we  are  separated  by  the  connections  and  business  of  life.  £)ur  em- 
ployments, our  earthly  relationships,  and  the  circumstances  God  has 
placed  around  us,  throw  society  into  distinct  groups.  And  the  in- 
firmity of  the  human  mind  in  its  fallen  state,  and  the  different 
positions  from  which  we  contemplate  the  same  truths,  have  formed 
DS,  as  Christians,  into  communities  known  by  different  names,  each 
holding,  we  trust,  the  essential  doctrines  and  substantial  elements  of 
the  Christian  faith. 

Sad  we  remained  in  our  original  purity,  as  far  as  we  did  know, 
our  knowledge  would  have  been  free  from  error,  like  the  knowledge 
of  angels  ;  but  as  to  its  extent,  it  would  have  been  finite  and  imper- 
fect. There  is  something  more  than  the  finiteness  of*  our  creature- 
ship  to  disturb  us  now,  in  our  pursuit  of  truth.  There  is  the  moral 
obliquity  of  our  nature  affecting  us  all  in  an  equal  degree.  And  \ 
while  the  great  doctrines  which  distinguish  revealed  religion  are 
attended  with  such  evidence  that  to  reject  them  is  a  crime,  we  cannot 
say  the  same  of  those  minor  forms  which  divide  one  denomination 
from  another.  On  this  debateable  or,  at  least,  debated  ground,  we 
may  agree  to  differ.  In  seasons  of  controversy  we  magnify  these 
topics  till  enmities  are  begotten  which  remain  for  a  generation.  It 
is  sometimes  a  blessing  when  some  foreign  enemy  attacks  our  com- 
mon faith,  and  when,  contending  for  one  common  cause,  we  bury  our 
enmities,  and  remember  that  we  are  brethren.  But  far  more  pleasant 
is  it,  when  we  are  drawn  together  by  common  interest*  and  mutual 
love  in  times  of  peace ;  when,  the  banner  of  our  hope  waving  over  ^ 
us,  and  the  hostile  camps  of  our  invaders  withdrawn,  we  meet  together 
on  common  ground,  to  exchange  the  pledges  of  friendship,  and  to 
remember  that  in  Christ  the  middle  wall  of  partition  is  broken  down 
between  us ;  that  we  have  one  Lord,  one  Faith,  one  Baptism ;  and 
that  the  Bible,  our  store-house  in  peace  and  armory  in  war,  is  our 
common  treasure,  and  points  us  to  one  home  in  heaven,  where  we  shall 
see  eye  to  eye,  and  know  even  as  we  are  known. 


18 


SERMON. 


Such  an  opportunity  is  afforded  us  this  evening,  when  from  our 
several  places  we  have  assembled  around  the  staudard  of  our  faith* 
the  Sacred  Scriptures.  It  is  the  peculiar  honor,  hitherto,  of  the  Bible 
Society,  thai  it  has  bound-  together  Christians  of  different  name, 
brought  them  with  one  accord  to  one  place,  melted  away  that  •'  pious 
estrangement"  and  "  consecrated  hostility,"  the  growth  of  ages,  and 
has  adumbrated  in  a  new  prophecy  the  return  of  those  auspicious 
days,  when  "the  multitude  of  them  who  believed  were  of  one  heart 
and  one  soul,"  and  when,  as  a  consequence  of  that  uuion.  at  least  in 
part,  "  the  word  of  God  mightily  grew  and  prevailed." 

Let  the  nineteenth  psalm,  and  the  seventh  verse — "  The  law  of  the 
Lord  is  perfect,  converting  the  soul" — furnish  us,  my  brethren,  with 
the  theme  of  our  meditations  this  evening. 

The  Psalmist  had  been  considering  the  heavens  above  us : 

The  heavens,  he  says,  declare  the  glory  of  God, 
The  firmament  showeth  the  work  of  His  hands: 
Day  utters  its  speech  to  day, 
And  night  to  night  its  knowledge. 

So,  there  is  handed  down  through  all  time  the  traditionary  story  of  His 
power  and  Godhead. 

There  is,  indeed,  no  word,  no  speech,  audible  to  the  human  ear : 

Their  voice  is  not  heard,  « 

Yet  is  their  silent  language  gone  out' into  all  the  earth, 
Their  testimony  to  the  ends  of  the  world. 

But  principally  the  sun  heralds  forth  the  glory  of  God  : 

In  the  midst  of  the  heavens  He  hath  set  a  tent  for  him  , 
He  goeth  forth  like  the  glorious  bridegroom  from  his  nuptial  chanu«  ,• . 
He  rejoices  like  a  hero  to  run  his  race ; 
|     From  the  extremity  of  the  heavens  is  his  going  forth, 
To  their  end  his  circuit  extends, 
And  there  is  nothing  hidden  from  his  heat. 

Elevated  as  his  soul  is  by  this  view  of  God's  glory,  as  reflected  from 
the  world  of  nature,  with  unutterable  emotion  he, turns  to  the  volume 
of  revelation.  It  is  the  law,  the  testimony,  the  statutes,  the  com- 
mandment, the  fear,  the  judgments,  of  Jehovah;  the  teacher,  the 
witness,  the  legislator,  the  sovereign,  the  judge  deciding,  and  carrying 


SERMON.  19 

his  decisions  into  execution.  "  The  law  of  the  Lord  is  perfect,  con- 
verting the  soul :  the  testimony  of  the  Lord  is  sure,  making  wise  the 
simple:  the  statutes  of  the  Lord  are  right,  rejoicing  the  heart:  the 
commandment  of  the  Lord  is  pure,  enlightening  the  eyes :  the  fear 
of  the  Lord  is  clean,  enduring  for  ever:  the  judgments  of  the  Lord 
are  true  and  righteous  altogether.  More  to  be  desired  are  tb'^y  than 
gold,  yea,  than  much  fine  gold ;  sweeter,  also,  than  honey,  and  the 
honeycomb.  Moreover,  by  them  is  thy  servant  warned,  and  in  keeping 
of  them  there  is  great  reward."  The  law  of  Jehovah,  the  Eternal, 
Immutable,  Covenant-Keener,  is  perfect,  sure,  right,  pure,  clean,  true. 
righteous,  and  to  be  desired  above  all  things  else — converting  the 
soul,  making  wise  the  simple,  rejoicing  the  heart,  and  enlightening 
the  eyes — having  every  lovely  attribute,  and  producing  every  salutary 
effect. 

Other  men  have  pronounced  an  eulogium  upon  the  Sacred  Scrip- 
tures, and  bound  them  upon  their  hearts.  But  here  is  Israel's 
greatest  king,  ancestor  and  type  of  the  second  David,  our  Lord  and 
Saviour,  giving  utterance  to  his  own  heart-emotions,  the  Spirit 
mingling  His  pure  influences  in  all  his  thoughts,  and  shaping,  per- 
haps unconsciously  to  him,  the  phrase  in  which  they  were  expressed. 

But  how  much  of  this  holy  book  did  David  have  before  him  ?  Not 
the  four  Evangelists,  nor  the  writings  of  Paul,  Peter,  James,  Jude, 
and  John,  which  came  not  till  a  thousand  years  after;  not  the  writ- 
ings of  Solomon,  nor  of  Isaiah,  Jeremiah,  and  the  prophets.  The 
whole  of  this  law  of  the  Lord  he  so  enjoyed  could  be  no  more  than 
the  five  books  of  Moses,  and  Joshua,  Judges,  Ruth,  and  Job;  and  if  in 
these  books  he  found  all  this  purity  and  sanctifying  power,  how  much 
wider  is  the  scope  of  Divine  revelation  before  us,  and  how  much 
stronger  the  emphasis  these  words  now  bear. 

Adhering  closely  to  our  text,  we  should  show  that  the  word  of 
God  is  perfect,  and  so  possessed  of  every  desirable  attribute,  and  then 
set  forth  its  office  in  quickening,  reviving  and  restoring  the  soul  of 
the  believing  man,  which,  if  we  understand  the  words,  is  the  effect 
ascribed  to  it  here.  We  choose,  however,  to  speak  of  its  prominent 
characteristics  in  a  more  general  way  on  this  occasion. 

I.  Consider,  in  the  first  place,  the  Divine  authority  and  yet  human 
aspects  these  Scriptures  bear.  The  Law  is  the  law  of  the  Lord.  It 
speaks  not  merely  with  the  voice  of  a  man,  but  with  the  authority  of 


_"  3HBM0N. 

(rod.  "  He  that  believeth  shall  he  saved,  and  he  that  helieveth  not 
shall  he  damned.''  "  If  any  man  sh:ill  take  away  from  the  words  of  the 
book  of  this  prophecy,  God  shall  take  away  his  part  out  of  the  book 
of  life,  and  out  of  the  holy  city,  and  from  the  tilings  which  are  written 
in  this  book."  And  yet,  behold  how  all  these  words  touch  our  human 
sympathies.  The  words  of  this  psalm  are  no  less  the  words  of  the 
man  David,  that  he  was  moved  to  write  them  by  the  Spirit  of  God. 
That  they  "are  sweeter  than  honey  and  the  honeycomb,"  is  David's 
own  appreciation  of  their  worth.  ••  Keep  back  thy  servant,  also,  from 
presumptuous  sins  ;  let  them  not  have  dominion  over  me,"  is  the 
earnest  prayer  of  his  sensitive  conscience.  "  Lord,  not  my  feet  only, 
but  my  hands  and  my  head ;"  "  This  voice  which  came  from  heaven 
we  heard  when  we  were  with  Him  in  the  holy  mount,"  and  "were 
eye-witnesses  of  His  majesty,"  are  Peter's  own  words,  the  issues  of  his 
own  moved  and  believing  heart.  And  thus  there  is,  throughout,  the 
divine  and  the  human  in  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  the  weeping  penitent 
saying,  "Lord,  I  believe,  help  thou  mine  unbelief;"  the  triumphing 
saint,  "  I  know  in  whom  I  have  believed,  I  am  now  ready  to  be 
offered,  and  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand.  I  have  fought  a 
good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith ;  hence- 
forth there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness,  which  the 
Lord  the  righteous  judge  shall  give  me  in  that  day."  And  yet  these 
words  of  believing  men  moved  by  the  Holy  Gho.^t.  are  no  les>  the 
word  of  the  All-Wise  God,  than  those  which  He  uttered  to  Moses 
without  the  medium  of  human  lips,  on  the  holy  Mount. 

There  arc  not  only  these  outbursts  of  sanctified  human  emotion  to 
touch  our  hearts,  but  the  very  record  itself  bears  all  the  characteris- 
tics of  the  sacred  writer  who  makes  it.  There  is  the  simple  dignity 
of  Moses,  there  is  the  elegiac  tenderness  of  David,  there  is  the  shrewd 
yet  heaven-taught  sagacity  of  Solomon,  there  is  the  noble,  polished 
diction  of  Isaiah,  with  the  plaintive  measures  of  the  weeping  prophet, 
and  Ezekiel  and  Daniel  wrapped  in  visious  ;  there  is  the  rapid,  graphic 
sketching  of  Mark,  the  profound,  heart-felt,  penetrating  tenderness 
of  John,  who  lay  on  the  Saviour's  breast,  the  more  than  Demosthe- 
nian  eloquence  of  Paul,  the  periods  of  James,  with  their  rythmic 
cadence — all  these  human  elements  appealing  to  our  sympathies  and 
imaginations,  as  well  as  the  evidence,  contiuually  borne  along,  that 
these  men  spake  only  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost.     There 


SERMON.  21 

is  this  divine-human  in  the  word  of  God  analogous  to  the  d 
human  in  the  nature  of  Christ,  thouffh  different  from  it,  speaking 
with  the  henrt  of  a  man,  and  yet  with  the  authority  and  power  of 
God,  even  as  He  spake  when  He  said,  with  deep  human  emotion,  and 
yet  exercising  His  own  divine  prerogative-.  ■•  ('.me  unto  me.  all  ye 
that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  yon  rest ;  take  my  yoke 
upon  you,, and  learn  of  me;  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly  of  heart;  and 
ye  shall  find  rest  to  your  souls." 

II.  Again,  consider  the  mere  external  things,  of  a  wholly  second- 
ary nature,  which  combine  to  clothe  this  sacred  volume  with  interest. 
It  contains  the  oldett  Uteratmet  on  earth.  I'm-,  though  Moses  did  not 
live  till  past  the  middle  period  before  <'hrist.  h»-  \va-  nine  hundred 
years  earlier  than  the  sages  of  Greece  and  Asia,  and  twelve  hundred 
earlier  than  the  father  of  Grecian  history.  The  book  of  Genesis  embod- 
ies, not  improbably,  the  authentic  and  inspired  literature  of  a  period 
before  Moses.  And  if  the  aged  man  who  has  long  survived  his 
generation,  the  aged  oak  that  has  withstood  the  storms  of  centuries, 
and  the  lofty  pyramid  that  has  outlived  the  wreck  of  empires  are 
venerable  to  us,  how  much  more  these  records  of  an  earliei 
which,  if  not  contemporaneous  with  them,  yet  truthfully  teach  us  the 
origin  of  the  world  and  man,  the  derivation  of  nations,  the  beginnings 
of  the  family,  the  State,  and  the  Church  of* God. 

For  fifteen  hundred  years,  till  John  closed  the  canon  with  the 
Apocalypse,  and  sealed  up  the  prophecy,  did  God  continue  from  time 
to  time  to  reveal  His  will,  and  move  men  to  write  it  down.  IVo  less 
than  from  thirty-five  to  forty  men,  whose  names  are  mostly  known 
wielded  the  pen  under  the  Holy  Spirit's  guidance,  and  have  given  us 
a  book  of  various  contents :  laws,  histories,  psalms,  proverbial  philo- 
sophy, prophecies,  biography,  epistles.  They  were  men  of  various 
culture,  various  tastes  and  tempers  of  mind.  They  were  priests, 
poets,  prophets,  warriors,  herdsmen,  fishermen,  scholars.  They  wrote 
in  the  deserts,  in  the  schools  of  the  prophets,  in  the  temple,  in  the 
courts  of  kings,  in  Western  and  Central  Asia,  amid  Grecian  and 
Roman  civilization.  They  wrote  in  the  purest  simplicity,  in  strains 
of  unutterable  tenderness,  and  again  with  a  stately  and  magnificent 
march  of  thought  and  language,  in  gorgeous  imagery,  in  awful 
sublimity. 


22  SEUMON. 

The  ore,   is    a    book    of   endless  variety,  of  un< 

freshness,  of  constant  surprises,  of  which,  ii'  we  enter  into  its  spirit, 
ver  tire.  It  is  written,  for  the  umsi  par,,  in  two  remarkable 
tongues,  the  Hebrew,  full  of  passion,  full  of  feeling,  and  full  of  move- 
ment and  life  ;  and  the  Greek,  exact,  copious,  and  eminently  suited  to 
convey  definite  and  clear  views  of  abstract  and  philosophic  truth. 
The  one  was  the  language,  for  the  most  part,  of  a  pastoral  p«0] 
limited  domain,  suited  to  receive  a  divine  revelation,  while  it  was  to  lie 
perpetuated  and  held  in  reserve  till  He  who  should  stretch  forth  the 
rod  of  His  strength  from  Zion,  and  carry  forth  truth  unto  victory, 
should  come;  the  other,  a  language  more  widely  diffused  over  the 
civilized  world,  through  which  the  truth  could  reach  men  of  many 
.  in  one  generation. 

The  Bible  is  equally  interesting  for  the  opposition  it  /ms ,  ncotmtt  ml. 
The  powerful  and  the  weak  have  risen  up  against  it.  Learning  has 
sought  among  its  ample  stores  to  prove  its  declarations  at  fault,  ana 
philosophy,  with  her  boasted  discoveries,  to  prove  it  inconsistent.  It. 
has  shamed  its  enemies,  and  sent  them  back  to  correct  their  facts 
and  harmonize  their  testimony.  It  has  been  ridiculed,  insulted,  tout, 
and  burned.  But  it  still  lives,  and  exerts  its  blessed  power  upon  the 
world.  We  regard  it  with  that  curiosity  and  veneration  with  which 
we  view  the  battlements  of  some  renowned  city,  which  has  sustained 
siege  after  siege,  and  remains  unconquered.  It  has,  in  turn,  assailed 
its  assailants,  and  ground  them  to  powder.  In  every  attack  upon  it, 
they  have  been  vanquished. 

III.  But  when  we  turn  away  our  view  from  these  outward,  yet  note- 
worthy attractions,  to  its  substantial  contents,  we  find  it  replete  with 
topics  of  surpassing  powers,  all  embraced  in  the  one  word,  redemption. 
When  we  look  at  home,  we  find  ourselves  thrown  upon  the  world  op- 
pressed with  a  thousand  evils;  a  conflict  continually  waging  within 
between  inclination  and  duty ;  with  aspirations  after  immortality  and 
peace,  yet  dragged  downward  by  a  weight  of  moral  infirmity,  and 
swayed  by  unholy  and  torturing  passions,  unable  to  reach  the  felicity 
to  which  we  aspire.  As  we  read  these  sacred  pages  over,  it  is  plain 
that  their  grand  subject  is  redemption — redemption  front  sin,  i'rom 
condemnation,  from  all  these  ills.  Redemption  is  the  key-note,  to 
which  all  its  parts  are  adjusted  in  the  sweetest  harmony,  and  is  heard 
ever  resounding  in  the  diapason  of  its  song.     All  its  histories  of  the 


BSKM09.  23 

past,  and  prophecies  of  the  future,  have  this  for  their  theme,  what- 
ever the  outward  event  recorded  by  the  historic  pen,  or  adumbrated 
more  dimly  in  the  prophetic  vision.  From  the  eternity  past  to  the 
final  consummation,  and  beyond,  into  the  eternity  to  come,  there  is 
presented  to  view  one  illustrious  personage,  the  Seed  of  the  Woman, 
the  Angel  of  the  Covenant,  the  Messianic  King,  the  eternal  Word,  the 
Son  of  God,  the  Desire  of  Nations,  the  Lamb  in  the  midst  of  the 
throne.  One  central  object  rises  before  our  eye;  it  is  the  community 
of  saints,  the  chosen  of  <iod,  the  eternal  kingdom  of  Christ 
church  of  the  living  God,  militant  on  earth,  or  washed  and  sanctified, 
and  adorned,  as  a  bride  for  her  bridegroom,  in  heaven.  It  is  hi 
flowing  stream,  issuing  forth  I'n.iii  eternity  past,  widening  and  deepen- 

-  it  glides  along,  spreading  fertility  all  abroad  through  th< 
of  time  ;  bearing  on  its  bosom  unutterable  wealth  ;  refreshing  with  its 
crystal  waters  of  life  every  thirsting,  fainting  spirit;  watering  trees 
whose  fruits  and  leav  r  the  healing  of  the  nations ;  and  flowing 

on  in  its  purity  and  healthful  power  through  eternity  to  come.  When 
it  is  said,  "In  the  beginning  (rod  drafted  the  heavens  and  the  earth.'' 
and  we  beliold  the  world  coming  into  being  out  of  nothing.  •  so  thai 
things  which  are  seen  were  not  made  of  things  which  do  appear ;" 
when  we  behold  the  darkness  of  chaos  dispossessed  by  the  light  of  the 
first  morning  ;  the  waters  lifted  up  and  separated  by  the  airy  firmament 
from  those  beneath,  the  bed  of  the  primitive  ocmii  in  part  upheaved, 
to  form'  the  dry  land,  this  clothed  with  verdure,  and  earth,  air,  and 
BSaa  peopled  with  living  hosts;  when  we  behold  the  heavens  above 
and  the  earth  beneath  speaking  forth  the  glory  of  God,  when 
there  was  no  human  eye  to  see  nor  ear  to  hear  it;  when  we  behold  the 
intelligent  and  moral  creation  starting  into  life,  and  man  formed 
with  peculiar  deliberation,  as  if  God's  noblest  work;  when  His  own 
image  is  stamped  upon  him,  and  he  prepared  at  once  to  rule  and  to 
worship,  as  a  king  and  a  priest  unto  God ;  when  we  behold  him  able 
to  stand,  but  free  to  fall,  the  head  and  representative  as  he  was  of  all 
his  seed;  when  we  behold  him  overstepping  all  the  restraints  which 
gratitude,  and  reverence,  and  fear  of  his  Creator,  impressed  upon  him, 
and  coming  under  the  awful  sentence  of  temporal  and  eternal  death, 
his  race  involved  in  his  curse,  and  the  earth  itself,  his  and  their  abode, 
smitten  with  the  divine  malediction;  when  we  behold  the  tempter  de- 
graded, and  this  seeming  conqueror  conquered,  and  this  spoiler  spoiled. 


24  BBBMON. 

and  the  declaration  distinctly  made,  that  the  Seed  of  the  Woman 
should  hruise  his  head;  we  begin. to  see  the  grand  design  of  all  de- 
veloped. The  earth  was  created  lor  the  abode  of  man.  that  it  might 
be  the  theatre  of  redemption,  in  which  the  IHviue  glory  is  unfolding 
itself  in  increasing' splendors.  And  to  teach  men  this,  and  not  to 
teach  them  science,  is  the  grand  design  of  the  entire  record.  The 
scheme  unfolds  itself  in  rapid  manifestations.  The  institution  of 
sacrifices  taught. man  more  fully  his  guilt  and  moral  weakness,  of 
which  he  must  have  been  conscious  before,  and,  in  connection  with 
instructions  often  given,  pointed  him  to  that  great  sacrifice  to  be  made 
in  the  fullness  of  time.  Men  who  had  worshipped  God  in  private,  and 
in  the  sacred  precincts  of  their  own  homes,  now  banded  together,  and 
began  to  call  upon  the  name  (if  Grod  in  a  more  public  and  demonstra- 
tive worship.  In  spite  of  all  this,  amid  the  prophesying  of  Enoch, 
the  seventh  from  Adam,  saying,  "  Behold,  the  Lord  cometh  with  ten 
thousand  of  his  saints  to  execute  judgment;"  and  the  warning  of 
Noah,  a  preacher  of  rightousness ;  the  degeneracy  of  men  spread 
wider,  and  the  earth  was  filled  wiyi  violence;  but  lo!  the  overwhelming 
deluge,  which  swept  them  away,  bore  aloft  the  Ark,  and  sated  by  its 
waters  the  chosen  Church — a  type  of  this  redemption  of  which  baptism 
is  now  the  figure  and  symbol.  Every  thing  else  in  the  Scriptures  is 
about  Christ,  or  because  of  him.  Kvery  dry  genealogy,  every  list  of 
encampments  and  omumeration  of  the  people,  has  its  connection  with 
the  story  of  redemption.  All  those  surprising  facts  scattered  along 
in  the  entire  narration  :  the  confusion  of  tongues  and  consequent  dis- 
persion of  the  nations,  though  they  were  of  one  blood  ;  the  selection 
of  one  line  of  descent,  and  the  covenant  with  Abraham,  its  head  and 
the  father  of  the  faithful,  in  whose  seed  the  nations  would  be  blessed; 
the  selection  of  one  branch  of  his  family  as  the  depositary  of  the 
truth,  to  perpetuate  it  in  the  world ;  the  bondage  in  Egypt,  the  mirac- 
ulous deliverance ;  the  giving  of  the  law ;  the  system  of  rites  and 
symbols  addressing  the  eye,  and  thus  preaching  the  Gospel  of  redemp- 
tion to  the  heart  j  the  solemn  procession  of  the  prophets,  with  their 
cultivated  genius,  their  lofty  inspirations,  their  office  as  watchmen 
over  the  theocracy,  and  their  striking  testimony,  (for  the  "  testimony 
of  Jesus  is  the  spirit  of  prophecy;")  the  clearer  indication  of  the 
Messiah's  approach,  and  the  return  of  His  kingdom,  as  the  time  draws 
nigh  ;  His  incarnation,  that  stupendous  event  that  moved  all  heaven 


SERMON.  18 

in  praise ;  His  matchless  instructions  and  unequalled  virtue ;  His  inno- 
cent, meek,  and  holy  example ;  His  atoning  death,  crucifixion  and 
burial ;  His  bursting  the  prison  bars,  ascending  on  high,  and  assuming 
universal  dominion  as  head  over  all  things  to  the  church ;  his  reestab- 
lishment  of  this  church  ou  earth,  with  its  impressive  sacraments  and 
its  teaching  ministry;  the  reiterated  announcement  of  our  need  of 
atonement  and  regenerating  grace,  and  that  through  Ilini  alone  are 
these  to  be  had;  that  when  He  had  offered  Himself  a  sacrifice  in  this 
outer  court,  He  entered  with  His  own  blood  to  intercede  within  the 
veil,  having  sent  forth  His  Holy  Spirit,  the  second  Comforter,  to  con- 
vert and  sanctify ;  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  the  immortality  of 
souls,  their  final  judgment  and  endless  rewards  in  heaven  or  hell;  the 
universal  diffusion  of  the  Gospel  under  Christ  our  King,  its  triumph 
over  the  hearts  of  men  and  the  powers  of  hell,  till  men  will  court  its 
favor  even  when  they  are  not  in  heart  obedient  to  it ;  the  passing 
away  of  the  heavens  with  a  great  noise,  and  the  conflagration  of  our 
earth,  when  God's  people  shall  have  been  gathered  home;  and  the 
new  heavens  and  new  earth  wherein  dwelleth  righteousness ;  all  these 
are  embraced  within,  and  are  parts  of,  the  central  truth  of  redemption, 
the  great  topic  of  the  sacred  Scriptures,  the  key-note,  ever  repeated, 
o£  this  wondrous  anthem  which  gladdens  every  sin-sick  soul  on  earth, 
and  shall  till  all  heaven  with  n'soundint:  praise. 

Does  a  man  wish  for  subjects  of  commanding  interest  with  which 
to  arrest  attention,  enwrap  the  mind,  and  affect  the  heart,  let  him 
study  deeply  these  stupendous  truths  until  they  penetrate  and  arouse 
his  powers,  then  let  him  go  among  the  haunts  of  men  and  publish 
them  to  the  world.*  Could  you  evoke  the  ancient  sages  from  their 
dustybeds,  or  call  Newton  from  his  meditations  on  the  stars,  or  Locke 
from  his  investigations  of  the  human  mind,  and  Bacon  from  his  deep 
reading  of  the  human  heart ;  could  you  summon  statesmen  from  their 
attention  to  the  concerns  of  empires,  or  politicians  from  their  intense 
search  for  the  means  of  moulding  the  popular  will ;  what  system  of 
truths  could  they  devise,  which  should  interest  and  benefit  man,  while 
he  lives,  at  all  comparable  to  this  ?  What  other  system  could  form 
the  staple  of  weekly  Sabbath  instruction,  or  so  engage,  arouse,  and 
transform  the  popular  mind  ? 

Even  the  fanaticism  which  has.  at  periods,  swept  over  the  church 
with  desolating  fury,  shows   the  power  of  the  true  faith.     If  the 
4 


26  -KKMON. 

counterfeit  has  had  so  great  and  dismal  a  sway,  what  must  he  the 
majestic  power  of  that  truth  under  which  it  has  taken  refuge?  The 
awful  sanctions  of  the  divine  law  ;  its  searching  scrutiny  of  the  human 
heart;  the  intuitive  justice  of  its  claims;  man's  impotency  to  any 
good,  and  his  entire  dependence  on  divine  power;  often  shake  the 
most  determined  and  stubborn  soul.  But  it  is  around  the  cross  of 
Christ  that  these  full-orbed  truths  of  the  Christian  system  revolve. 
In  frozen  Greenland,  in  the  Hottentot's  kraal,  in  the  wigwam  of  the 
savage,  and  the  hovel  of  the  slave,  and  in  the  palace  of  the  king,  the 
cabinet  of  the  philosopher,  and  the  tent  of  the  soldier,  in  the  lowest 
and  highest  extremes  of  society,  it  has  spoken  in  accents  of  tenderness 
to  the  guilty  and  despairing,  and,  by  the  look  of  faith  they  have  lifted 
upon  it,  has  translated  them  out  of  darkness  into  light.  "  The  la^of 
the  Lord  is  perfect,  converting  the  soul." 

IV.  Upon  this  central  truth  of  gratuitous  pardon  through  Christ, 
there  is  built  a  system  of  the  purest  morality. 

What  is  virtue  ?  is  a  short  but  a  pithy  question,  which  has  exercised 
the  human  mind  for  ages  past,  in  fruitless  efforts  to  answer  it.  One 
has  defined  virtue  to  be,  living  according  to  nature.  Another,  living 
in  pleasure.  Another  has  held  that  lust,  or  anger,  is  no  more  to  be 
blamed  than  the  thirst  occasioned  by  dropsy ;  that  pride,  self-valua- 
tion, ingenuity,  quickness  of  thought,  ease  of  expression,  delicacy  of 
taste,  strength  of  body,  and  cleanliness,  are  virtues ;  and  that  self- 
denial,  self-mortification,  and  humility,  are  not  virtues,  but  useless  and 
mischievous.  Another  makes  utility  the  standard  of  right;  a  standard 
which  it  requires  omniscience  to  employ.  The  Bible  makes  the  will 
of  God  the  rule  of  right,  and  sums  up  all  virtue  in  one  precept,  "  Thou 
shaft  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind, 
and  thy  neighbour  as  thyself."  This  one  precept  places  the  child,  in 
this  land  of  Bibles,  far  above  the  wisest  philosophers  of  ancient  and 
modern  times.  The  Scriptures  reject  from  the  list  of  virtues,  vanity, 
pride,  the  mere  love  of  glory,  resentmont,  revenge,  hatred  of  enemies, 
contempt  of  the  poor,  confidence  in  self,  insensibility  under  suffering, 
love  of  conquest  and  war ;  and  substitutes  instead  humility,  meekness, 
forgiveness,  self-denial,  a  mind  occupied  with  heavenly  things,  sym- 
pathy with  the  poor,  renunciation  of  self,  and  resignation  under  afflic- 
tion. And,  while  all  other  systems  have  been  without  strength  or 
adequate  motive  to  holiness  of  life,  this  system  supplies  both.     "  When 


SERMON.  27 

we  were  without  strength.  Christ  died  for  the  ungodly ;"  and  a  true 
believer  in  Him  cannot  help  being  a  virtuous  man.  l>  How  shall  we 
who  are  dead  to*  sin  live  any  longer  therein  ?  "  Our  old  humanity 
was  crucified  with  him,  that  the  body  of  sin  might  be  destroyed,  that 
henceforth  we  should  not  serve  sin.  We  are  no  longer  held  in  bondage 
under  the  law,  and  driven  by  its  lash  We  have  the  living  spirit  of 
children,  and  of  rescued  friends,  and  "  sin  shall  not  have  dominion 
over  us,  because  we  are  not  under  the  law,  but  under  grace." 

To  strengthen  our  tottering  virtue,  aud  draw  our  affections  heaven- 
ward, it  establishes  among  us  a  system  of  pure  icorship.     You  ask 
paganism  what  you  shall  worship.     In  her  more  rational  moments, 
she  bids  you  lift  up  your  eyes  to  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars,  and  behold 
your  deities.     She   sends  you  to  the  temple  of  the  winds,  or  of  the 
god  of  war,  or  of  drunkenness,  or  of  the  goddess  of  pleasure;  or  she 
bows  you  down   to  the  crocodile,  the  serpent,  the  toad;  to  birds,  and 
four-footed  beasts,  and  creeping  things.     You  ask  her  with  what  rites 
you  shall  worship,  and  she  bids  you  offer  the  fruit  of  your  body  for 
the  sin  of  your  soul.     The  priest  of  the  Phoenician   Moloch  would 
have  you  lay  your  helpless  babe  on  the  arms  of  his  brazen  idol,  to  fall 
into  the  fires  racing  beneath;  the  priest  of  Greece   bids  you  whip 
your  naked  boy  on  the  altar  of  Diana  until  he  dies.     Within  our  own 
generation,  the  South-Sea  Island  mother — now,  thanks  to  God,  more 
happily  taught — rendered   cruel  by  her   religious   rights,  has  buried 
her  infant    alive,  and    trampled    the    earth  upon    it    with    her    own 
feet;  while    the    priest   of  India   would  have    heT  throw    it   to   tho 
crocodile  thirsting   for    its   blood.     And  so   when  nations  consulted 
their  oracles.     The  people  of  Carthage,  when  involved  in  calamity, 
are  told  that    their    misfortunes  are  owing  to  the  anger  of  Saturn, 
because,   instead    of   offering    up    children    of   noble    descent,  there 
had  been  fraudulently  substituted  for  them  the  children  of  foreigners 
and  slaves.     With  fearful  repentance,  they  forthwith  atone  for  their 
sin  by  rivers  of  blood.     Two  hundred  children  of  the  best  families 
are  immediately  sacrificed ;  and  upwards  of  three   hundred   citizens, 
from  a  sense  of  guilt,  seek  in  voluntary  death  propitiation  for  the 
pretended  crime.     The  rocks  are   still   shown,  on  whose  sharp  points 
our  British  ancestors  immolated  their  victim,  and  in  whose  rudely 
hollowed  basin  they  floated  him  in  his  own  blood      And  our  Saxo 


28  .-KKMON. 

ancestors  were  polytheists  and  idolaters,  whose  god,  Woden,  prompted 
them  to  deeds  of  sanguinary  vengeance,  and  whose  highest  idea  oi' 
heavenly  blessedness  was  to  lie  on  couches  and  qudtf  ale  from  the 
sculls  of  slaughtered  foes.  But  you  ask  of  the  Bible  how  and  where 
you  shall  worship  God,  and  it  tells  you,  •'  Neither  in  Jerusalem,  nor 
in  this  mountain,  shall  men  worship  the  Father.  God  is  a  spirit,  and 
they  that  worship  Him  must  worship  Him  in  spirit  and  in  truth." 
1'aganism,  by  its  very  worship,  encouraged  looseness  of  morals,  and 
savage  ferocity.  You  would  blush  at  the  morals  of  Cato,  the  Senator, 
and  Socrates,  the  wise.  In  Christian  countries  there  may  be  vile 
pollution,  but  it  is  not  sanctioned  by  our  religion.  Not  so  in  pagan 
lands.  The  moving  car  on  which  Juggernaut  is  seated  is  covered  over 
with  obscene  images,  the  provocatives  of  vice.  As  a  code  of  morals, 
"  the  law  of  the  Lord  is  perfect,  converting  the  soul." 

Finally  :  that  the  Bible  is  the  best  and  most  perfect  gift  heaven 
has  bestowed  on  man,  is  shown  by  its  blessed  power  both  for  this  life 
and  that  which  is  to  come. 

It  quickens  thought,  promotes  intelligence,  and  fosters  learning. 
This  it  does  by  arousing  the  mind  with  its  grand  disclosures,  its 
weighty  truths,  on  which  eternal  consequences  hang,  its  moral  require- 
ments, which  demand  that  all  the  provinces  of  human  thought  should 
do  homage  to  them.  It  calls  upon  the  whole  system  of  public 
and  private  morality  to  arrange  itself  in  conformity  with  its 
precepts.  It  calls  upon  the  whole  system  of  jurisprudence  and 
international  law  to  harmonize  with  it.  It  proffers  them  its  aid, 
and  on  its  principles  are  they,  in  all  but  barbarous  nations,  now 
arranged.  Nations  and  individuals  are  alike  invested  by  it  with  a 
moral  character.  It  summons  them  to  its  tribunal,  and  gives  forth 
to  them  its  laws.  Behold  the  influence  it  exerts  in  times  of  peace, 
the  discussions  it  evokes  in  every  realm  of  thought,  and  the  learning 
which  is  implied  when  the  last  resort  must  be  had  to  an  ancient 
standard  like  this,  written  in  foreign  dialects  which  have  ceased  to 
be  used.  Academies,  colleges,  and  schools  fill  all  Christian  countries. 
Behold  its  influence  in  times  of  war,  when  the  nation  takes  the  sword 
to  defend  itself  and  punish  its  foes.  The  war  now  waging  on  our 
own  shores  is  sufficiently  terrible.  But  in  China  or  in  Africa,  how 
different.     The    prisoner   is   disembowelled,    beheaded,  or   dismem- 


SERMON.  29 

bered  or  sold  into  hopeless  bondage,  the  mother  and  the  child 
devoted  to  cruel  death,  or  indignities  more  brutal  still.  The  monu- 
ments of  Egypt  and  Assyria  reveal  the  same  or  greater  cruelties  as 
practiced  in  ancient  times.  Our  enemies,  if  wounded,  as  soon  as 
practicable,  are  kindly  cared  for ;  our  prisoners  are  fed,  and  in  due 
time  restored  to  their  homes.  Behold,  how  it  has  elevated  woman 
from  a  state  of  servitude  to  be  the  favored  and  respected  companion 
of  man ;  her  mind  and  tastes  cultivated,  her  sphere  assigned  her  and 
hedged  about  with  impregnable  defences,  where  she  reigns  as  queen 
with  her  ministries  of  love.  How  different  from  the  condition  in 
which  polygamy  and  unrestricted  divorce  leaves  her  in  heathen  lands. 
Paganism  abandons  its  sickly,  deformed,  or  aged,  to  perish.  It  has 
no  arrangements  to  alleviate  their  sufferings  or  make  existence  tol- 
erable. It  has  no  asylums,  no  refuges  for  the  unfortunate,  no  alms- 
houses nor  hospitals.  The  religion  of  the  Bible  gives,  as  far  as 
instrumentalities  can,  hearing  to  the  deaf,  language  to  the  dumb,  and 
sight  to  the  blind.  The  land  is  at  this  moment  full  of  its  deeds  of 
charity  and  its  yearnings  over  suffering  and  want.  It  hushes  the 
infant  to  its  slumbers  in  the  cradle  with  a  song  whose  theme  is  the 
babe  of  Bethlehem  ;  it  allures  the  child  to  virtue  by  the  example  of 
Josiah,  Timothy,  and  Samuel;  it  warns  the  wayward  jouth,  and 
reproves  the  erring  man,  and  calls  the  hoary  sinner  to  repentance. 
It  administers  strength  to  the  tempted,  courage  to  the  weak,  hope  to 
the  desponding,  comfort  to  the  bereaved,  and  enables  the  dying  to 
cry,  "  0  Death,  where  is  thy  sting ;  0  Grave,  where  is  thy  victory !" 
The  soldier  has  read  its  pages  on  the  morning  of  the  bloody  battle, 
has  offered  the  prayer  it  prompted  amid  the  sanguinary  strife,  has 
opened  its  leaves  to  take  a  last  look  at  its  blessed  promises  as  his  life- 
blood  was  ebbing  away  on  the  gory  field,  or  has  remembered  the 
patient  sufferer  of  Calvary  as  he  lies  pining  and  wasting  away  in  the 
distant  camp  amid  wintry  snows.  The  earthly  house  of  his  taber- 
nacle is  dissolving,  but  he  beholds  "  a  building  of  God,  an  house  not 
made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens." 

Precious  is  the  boon  God  has  given  you,  precious  that  which  you 
are  offering  to  men  of  every  degree.  You  give  to  them  God's  gift  to 
you.  It  is  plain,  they  cau  understand  it.  It  needs  not  that  its 
truths  should  be  distilled  through  priestly  lips.  Each  has  the  right 
of  private  judgment,  and  you  give  it  to  each  one  that  they  may  read, 


30  KKMON. 

meditate,  and  judge.  You  give  it  to  them,  not  to  win  them  to  your 
party,  bttt  to  Christ.  You  give  it  to  them,  because  it  is  all  they  need, 
with  the  Spirit's  aid,  to  save  them  from  the  second  death.  "Withhold 
it  not,  my  brethren,  lest  God  should  withhold  His  grace  from  you. 
Your  countrymen  need  it,  and  your  best  efforts  to  procure  it  in  this 
peculiar  season,  when  they  are  cut  off  from  other  sources  of  supply. 
The  nations  of  the  earth  need  it,  they  need  its  light,  they  need  the 
salvation  it  proffers,  and  the  view  it  gives,  so  inspiring,  of  a  happy 
immortality.  They  need  the  bond  of  charity  which  it  supplies,  and 
which  will  bind  into  one  sisterhood  all  nations,  when  they  shall  learn 
its  story  of  redemption,  when  their  minds  shall  be  roused,  their 
characters  formed,  their  intelligence  called  forth,  and  their  literature 
created  and  moulded  by  the  Scriptures.  Happy  day  !  when  the  bar- 
barous nations  shall  be  lifted  up,  and  have  their  eyes  purged  from 
ignorance  and  error  by  its  light.  Happy  day!  when  the  heathen, 
Messiah's  pledged  inheritance,  shall  receive  His  yoke,  and  "the 
mountain  of  the  Lord's  house  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills,  and 
the  nations  shall  flow  unto  it,  and  say,  Come,  let  us  go  up  to  the 
mountain  of  the  Lord,  to  the  house  of  the  God  of  Jacob,  and  He  will 
teach  us  of  His  ways,  and  we  shall  walk  in  His  paths.  For  out  of 
Zion  shall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the  word  of  the  Lord  from  Jeru- 
salem, and  they  shall  beat  their  swords  into  plough-shares  and  their 
spears  into  pruning-hooks.  Nation  shall  not  lift  up  sword  against 
nation,  neither  shall  they  learn  war  any  more." 

Let  us  gather  courage  at  this  our  convention,  my  brethren,  to 
attempt  the  work  God  has  given  us  to  do.  Let  us  gather  around  the 
Bible  Society  of  these  Confederate  States,  ushered  into  being,  happily, 
since  our  last  annual  convention,  and  in  accordance  with  our  earnest 
desire,  and  by  the  agency  at  that  time  inaugurated  by  us.  Let  us  aid 
it  to  enthrone  the  Bible  in  every  dwelling  of  our  Confederacy,  to  place 
the  whole  word  of  God,"  or  at  least  the  Christian  Scriptures,  in  the 
tent  or  knapsack  of  every  soldier  that  fights  our  battles  in  this  cruel 
war;  and  let  us  await  with  expectation  and  hope  that  day  when,  peace 
reigning  throughout  our  borders,  scope  shall  be  given  us  to  distribute 
the  Scriptures  in  foreign  lands,  thus  preaching  the  Gospel  to  every 
creature,  in  obedience  to  the  Saviour's  command,  and  fulfilling  the 
prophecy  respecting   Christ,  that  "  in  His   name  shall   the  Gentiles 


SERMON.  31 

trust."  "  He  shall  not  strive,  nor  cry,  neither  shall  any  man  hear 
His  voice  in  the  street.  A  bruised  reed  shall  he  not  break,  and  the 
smoking  flax  shall  he  not  quench,  till  he  send  forth  judgment  unto 
victory." 

"How  fair  the  daughter  of  Jerusalem,  then! 
How  gloriously  from  Zion  hill  she  looks ! 
Clothed  with  the  sun,  and  in  her  train  the  moon, 
And  on  her  head  a  coronet  of  stars, 
And  girdling  round  her  waist,  with  heavenly  grace, 
The  bow  of  mercy  bright ;  and  in  her  hand, 
Tmmanuel's  cross,  her  sceptre  and  her  hope ! 
Desire  of  every  land  !     The  nations  come 
And  worship  at  her  feet ;  all  nations  come, 
Flocking  like  doves ; 

The  East,  the  "West,  the  South,  and  snowy  North, 
Rejoicing  meet,  and  worship  reverently 
Before  the  Lord  in  Zion's  holy  hill : 
The  desert  blossoms  and  the  barren  sings, 
Justice  and  Mcrcj',  Holiness  and  Love, 
Among  the  people  walk  ;  Messiah  reigns, 
And  Earth  keeps  jubilee  a  thousand  years." 


OFFICERS 

OF    THE 

Bible  Society  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America. 


PRESIDENT. 

Hon.  JOSEPH  HENRY  LUMPKIN,  of  Georgia. 


VICE-PRESIDENTS. 


Daniel  Rayenel,  S.  C. 
Rev.  David  Wills,  Ga. 
E.  A.  Holt,  Ala. 


Rev.  N.  H;  D.  Wilson,  N.  C. 


Rev.  Joseph  Anderson,  Fla. 
Rev.  Phil.  Courteney,  Ya. 
Hon.  Nathan  Green,  Tenn. 


MANAGERS. 

Rev.  S.  S.  Davis,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Joseph  R.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  Rev.  E.  H. 
Myers,  D.  D.,  Rev.  A.  T.  Mann,  D.  D.,  Rev.  A.  J.  Huntingdon,  Rev. 
W*.  J.  Hard,  Rev.  W.  II.  Clarke,  George  M.  Thew,  Wm.  A.  Walton, 
Dr.  I.  P.  Garvin,  W.  C.  Derry,  D.  R.  Wright,  Dr.  L.  D.  Ford,  Dr. 
J.  Milligan,  W.  P.  Carmichael,  D.  B.  Plumb,  W.  L.  Mitchel,  and 
James  M.  Chambers,  of  Georgia ;  E.  L.  Kerrison  and  John  A.  Inglis, 
of  South  Carolina;  R.  A.  Baker,  of  Alabama;  W.  C.  Means,  of 
North  Carolina;  Rev.  George  Woodbridge,  D.  D.,  of  Virginia;  James 
E.  Broome,  of  Florida. 


OFFICERS   OF    THE    BOARD. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Clarke,  Chairman. 

Rev.  W.  J.  Hard,  Recording  Secretary. 

Rev.  E.  H.  Myers,  D.  D.,  Corresponding  Secretary. 

George  M.  Thew,  Treasurer. 

Rev.  Edwin  A.  Bolles,  General  Ageiit. 


TERMS    OF    MEMBERSHIP. 

Members  of  the  Society  shall  be  as  follows  : 

Annual  Members — Being  persons  who  shall  annually  contribute 
a  sum  not  less  than  five  dollars. 

Liee  Members — Being  persons  who  shall  have  given  the  sum  of 
thirty  dollars  in  one  payment. 

Life  Directors — Being  persons  who  shall  have  given  the  sum  ol 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

Honorary  Directors — Being  Ministers  of  the  Gospel,  whose 
congregations  shall  make  an  annual  contribution  in  aid  of  the  funds 
of  the  Society. 

Patrons — Being  persons  who  shall  have  given  the  sum  of  one 
thousand  dollars. 


$3^  Contributions  may  be  forwarded  to  George  M.  Thew,  Esq., 
Treasurer,  Augusta,  Georgia. 


